Mauritius’s 1975 Student Strike: Celebrating 50 Years of Change

On May 20, 1975, thousands of Mauritian students protested against unfairness in the education system. Their strike challenged the gap between public and private schools and sparked major social and educational reforms.

The student movement was met with violent repression, but it showed the strength of a determined youth.

Faced with pressure, the government eventually made significant changes, including the introduction of free education.

This event remains a key moment in Mauritius’ history, not just for education but for society as a whole. It demonstrated how collective action can lead to deep and lasting change.

Lindsay Collen, an activist from Lalit, says the main lesson from this movement is that “change happens through coordinated actions based on a clear plan.”

She added that in 1975, the country was under a state of emergency, and the strike centered on demanding equal access to education. She emphasizes that “there was a victory.”

However, the period was also marked by social and political tensions, amid global waves of protest.

Jocelyn Chan Low, a historian and former student leader at Curepipe’s Royal College, recalled the events vividly.

At 17, he took part in the strike. “It was a time of questioning the entire system,” he said.

“It was happening worldwide. Social inequality was reflected in education, and there was also political repression.”

He explained that Mauritian society was deeply unequal at the time, with education inequalities highlighting broader injustices.

While Prime Minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam aimed to build a welfare state with some success, students wanted a more radical societal change.

“Student protests were part of a global wave of social revolts, but they also had local demands, especially for equal access to education,” Jocelyn Chan Low added.

Kugan Parapen from the left-wing party Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) stressed the power of popular action.

“When people stand up together, things change,” he said. He pointed out that while current discussions often focus on change, the 1975 protests showed how public pressure can truly make a difference.

People’s Power

According to him, the May 1975 strike is a prime example of the power of the people.

“The 1975 student strike was diverse. Everyone contributed in their own way, and the date of May 20, 1975, will be remembered and celebrated for the next 50 years and beyond,” he said.

This movement made a strong impression and became a symbol of resistance against an unfair system.

The strike had a direct impact on education in Mauritius. Lindsay Collen explains that “after the 1975 strike, education became free.”

This was a major achievement, allowing thousands of children from modest families to access secondary school, which was previously only available to the wealthiest.

Inequalities

However, Collen noted that this progress did not deeply transform society.

“It became more unequal. The rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. Even during decolonization, we still see traces of colonialism— in education, the language spoken at home, and even physically in the territory,” she said.

While education became free, social inequalities persisted or even grew, contradicting the hopes many had after the strike for a fairer, more equal society.

Jocelyn Chan Low agreed. He stated that although the strike helped speed up the introduction of free education, social inequalities remained.

“Inequality was still very present. Society stayed unequal. Free education and the right to access it were accelerated, but this was already part of the Labour Party’s plan.

Young people at the time wanted a radical change in society, but that didn’t happen.

Progress was made, but the ideal of a completely equal society was never achieved. Inequalities are still widespread today,” he concluded.

When Mauritius’ Youth Challenged Injustice

The student protests of May 1975 marked a turning point in Mauritian education history.

On May 19, thousands of students from various public and private schools gathered outside the Education Ministry to protest deep inequalities in the system.

The next day, May 20, they organized a historic march toward Port Louis to demand fairer education.

The students pointed out the stark differences between underfunded private colleges and better-equipped public and religious schools.

Labs were missing, libraries nonexistent—these shortcomings reinforced social injustices and limited opportunities for students from poorer backgrounds.

As they reached the Grande-Rivière-Nord-Ouest (GRNO) bridge, police blocked their way. Clashes erupted, with tear gas, batons, and stones.

The repression was harsh, causing injuries and damage.

Despite arrests and police pressure, the students persisted. They staged a 10-day hunger strike that drew public attention.

Under this growing pressure, the government eventually dropped the charges. At the time, the Education Ministry was led by Régis Chaperon.

This movement paved the way for key reforms, including the introduction of free secondary education in 1976, the creation of the Private Secondary Schools Authority (PSSA) in 1978 to reduce inequalities, and ongoing updates to school curricula.

Source: Defi Media